Improvement in harvesters



UNITED i STATES PATENT GEEICE.

W. S. STETSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 23,508, dated April 5, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. S. S'rETsoN, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Harvestiiig-lllachines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe principle or character which distinguishes them from all other things before known, and ofthe usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l is a perspective view of the machine; Fig. 2, a top view of the machine, the platform being removed; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal middle section of the parts between the carriage-wheels.

My invention consists in certain improvements in harvesting-machines, described and represented as follows:

A A are the carriage-wheels, turning upon the axle B. The Vplatform C for the driver is attached fast to the pole D at the point a, and the pole is connected with the axle by the hounds E, the ends of which have their bearings and swivel in the lugs F, ixed to the axle. The axle, which is square or rectangular between the wheels, passes through openings in the forward ends of the two side bars of the rectangular frame H, these openings being sufficientl y oblong to admit of a back-and-forth m0- tion of the frame upon the axle for the purpose of throwing the pinion K in and out of gear with the driving-wheel L upon the carriagewheel A', this pinion being upon the end of the shaft M, which is supported and turns in the rear ends of the side bars, b, of the frame H. The motion of the frame is effected by the lever N, the fulcrum d of which is on the platform, the branching ends e ot' the lever below being open forks g, which stride the cross-bar h, fixed in the forward part ot' the frame, this being more clearly shown in the section in Fig. 3, where the section of the cross-baris shown within the arms of the fork. The motion ofthe lever back and forth carries the frame with it and moves the pinion to and from the cogs of the driving-wheel L.

Fixed to the inside of the rear ends of the side bars,b, are projecting sleeves ,which embrace the shaft M, and serve as bearings for the forward ends of the vibrating frame R,

which has a common center of motion with the shaft M.

Fixed to the shaft M is a bevel-gear wheel, S, which .takes into the pinion T on the end of the crank-shaft V, to which the cutters are to be connected by the crank m and a connecting-rod,in a well-known 1nanner,-W representing a portion of the finger-bar upon which the knives are to be supported, these portions not being required to be shown here. The crank-shaft V is so supported in its bearings p p', tixed to frame R, that the line of its axis continued would intersect the axis of shaft M at right angles, so that the pinion T,'and therefore the knives also, would work freely in any position of the vibrating frame R. From the middle of the rear portion-of the frame It is hung the drop-piece X, which turns freely on an axis, y, supported in suitable bearings on the under side of the frame R. In consequence of the motion of frame R about axis M and the motion of the drop piece or shoe X and the knife-bar about axis y, it will be seen that the knife-bar will readily accommodate or adjust itself to uneven surfaces of ground, and will also override readily small obstacles in the way.

My mode of adjusting the cut or set of the knives is as follows: At one side of the platform is a lever, z, having its fulcrum w on the side of the platform, and` its shorter arm connected with the side of frame H by a pivotbolt, a', the lever z having a slot at e', so that it may move over its fulcrum as the frame H is raised and lowered by its action. It is also provided with holes to receive the stop-pin a2, so as to set the lever at a required adjustment. Accordingwto the action of the lever in raising and lowering frame H will be the action in raising and lowering the points of the knives through the medium of the frame lt and drop piece or shoe X and knife-bar W.

In harvesting-machines it is of great importance, when the knives are not in use, to have the knife-bar lifted from the ield and supported or horsed77 upon the carriage, so as to be out of the way in traveling about with the machine. It will be readily seen from the construction above described that I have accomplished the horsing of the knife-bar in a most simple, quick, convenient, and advantageous manner. The bar is raised lirst into an upright position, turning upon axis y, and is then carried upward and forward by lifting with it the frame R, which swings ou axis M, and the loar is then moved on in a forward direction until it lies over between the carriage- Wlieels in the position indicated by the red lines 'in Fig. 1. The cutter-bar is thus horsed in the position shown by only two movements,

which are effected in (or as nearly in as may the rear end of frame H, and having its center of motion coincident with the axis ot'pinion K, as set forth. f

3. The combination of the shoe X With the Vibrating frame It by means ot' the hinge-bolt y, arranged and attached to the rear of said frame in the manner set forth, by which combination the knife-bar is made self-adjustable. 4. Connecting the adjusting-lever z with the platform C and sliding frame H, as set forth. 5. Horsng the knife-bar over the platform, or ign a position at right angles, or nearly so, to the axle B by the two movements, substantially as described.

' W. S. STETSON.

Witnesses:

DANL. SGULLY, JOHN GRAMER. 

